SHANGHAI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - China is targeting grain
production of about 600 million tonnes this year to guarantee
absolute food security, state news agency Xinhua reported on
Friday, citing the agriculture ministry.

The ministry also pledged to improve the price formation
mechanism for grains and storage systems.

In December, the government's statistics bureau reported
that grain output in 2017 had risen 0.3 percent from the
previous year to 617.9 million tonnes.

SYDNEY, Feb 16 (Reuters) - U.S. soybeans took a breather on
Friday, though the oilseed was poised to record its biggest
weekly gain in seven months on fears dry weather in Argentina
will crimp production.

NEW YORK, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The United States generated
similar numbers of renewable fuel blending credits in January
compared with December, the Environmental Protection Agency said
on Thursday.
Some 1.283 billion ethanol (D6) blending credits were
generated in January, up slightly from 1.278 billion in
December, and 231 million (D4) blending credits were generated
in January, compared with 364 million a month earlier.
The credits are used by oil refiners and importers to show